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Well, let's start... The helmet is an Etchû zunari-kabuto. It's distinctive shape is typical for the Hosokawa clan. Also the hanpô, an Etchû-bô, fits with that. Attached to this type of zunari-kabuto is usually a shikoro without fukigaeshi, at which the lames are covered in thin leather (a technic called kawa-tsuzumi). Aditionally is the lowermost lame edged with a narrow leather band (kawa-fukurin). As evident in your case! I will continue with sangu and dô later on... Ok, the sangu. The sangu consists of sleeves (kote), thigh protection (haidate) and shin protection (suneate). Since the latter is probably missing, one would have to speak of nigu here. Regardless, due to the style, kote, like haidate, can also be categorized as Etchû. In addition, all parts have the same base fabric (ieji) and thus forming an original set that belongs together. So far so good, the cuirass, a Yokohagi nimai-dô, is a bit strange and needs more detailed considerations....tomorrow...

A lot pics! So you already managed to disassemble the armor, good! I will be on a symposium this weekend, so gimme some time… The “tanto” is made of a shortened, originally significantly longer, blade and the whole seems to be a later marriage. But I leave this to our sword experts here!

It’s quite easy to disassemble the set, Bob. The stand itself looks wrong, hence the display appears sloppy. About the sword and the armor. It’s quite unusual that the lacing (in this case leather?!) corresponds with the cover of the kozuka slot on a saya, but that not necessarily creates a connection between the tanto and the particular armor! Too many questions have to be answered before. For example, is the odoshi-ge original, is this gusoku a matching set, do sword and armor are match in time…etc. As mentioned before, we need more pics (also from the tanto in question) to make a proper judgment!

Hello Bob, the armor bears some typical features of an Hosokawa clan gusoku, at first glance. Can you please provide more pictures (also from each single part)?

Hmm, seems to be cotton….Sry, can’t help. You probably can try here: https://www.namikawa....com/product-list/25 or https://www.etsy.com...ito-10mm-10m-samurai

Ah, I see…

Priced accordingly and mentioned as “new”. Hence no problem!

Strange “jū”…

Why do you think it is (was) Iwai, Andy?

You are right Jussi! The descriptions of both armors on their site bearing also some failures and misinterpretations, but not so off as at the menpō.

This time another “expert” enters the game! But what do you complaining, it’s absolutely worth the current bid ($6,-)….🤓

Patrice, I admit that it can be very difficult at times to judge an item only by pictures (often even not very meaningful pictures as well). Especially when you have to do it under time pressure… We all know the story of a well known collector (and expert in the field; at least in my eyes) pinned on top of the katchū section 😉 I guess the main problem is the “expert label” in (more or less) obvious cases. So, if we can be of any help, let us know…. Disclaimer: I’m not an expert, but we can share opinions!

Pics are a bit blurry, Bruce. But I think the tester is “山野加右衛門ロロ” (Yamano Ka’emon?? + kao). Can’t make out the last two …maybe Nahgahisa (永久). Cut through two bodies on the 8. month, 19th day 1664.

Hi Jean, do we see “二十” (1945) ?

Hmm, based on the signature the Munenao from “嘉永” (1848-1853) comes to mind…..(without warranty!). Well, no pics, no further info!

Dobrée has nice kanji tables 👍

Hi Bruce, Markus listed cursive variants of kanji in his “Nihonto Compendium”! Quite helpful some times….

Sometimes one can’t see the forest through the trees….

A shot in the dark as a first try: “如(麟)斉黯意” The kanji in brackets might be a variant…can’t make out sense for the time being.

Kuninaga, probably 17th century. Indeed nice 👍

Authentic at first glance, IMHO….

He has glasses….he must be an expert 🤓

Jōi (乗意) 1701-1761 – Edo – student of Nara Toshinaga (寿永) – gō Issan (一蝅), Issandō (一蝅堂) – also Nagaharu (永春)

“他ニ不可渡之 - Do not hand this over to others”.…..failed! Sry, couldn’t resist 😔

Hmm, “後藤利影試之” if I’m not wrong?? One of the Gotō guys I guess… I have some difficulties to read the name...Toshikage??